d C a Gentiana Pneumonanthe. Marsh Gentian. 2. I.R.Del. Pub by W.Baxter Botanic Garden Oxford, 1836. C. Mathews, Sa GENTIA'NA*. Linnean Class and Order. PENTA'NDRIA†, DIGY'NIA. Natural Order. GENTIANEE, Dr. R. Brown.-Lindl. Syn. p. 177; Introd. to Nat. Syst. of Bot. p. 215.-Rich. by Macgilliv. p. 444.-Loud. Hort. Brit. p. 526.-GENTIA'NÆ, Juss. Gen. Pl. p. 141.-Sm. Gram. of Bot. p. 106.-SYRINGALES; subord. PRIMULOSE; sect. GENTIANINE; type, GENTIANACEÆ; Burn. Outl. of Bot. pp. 900, 958, & 1008.-ROTA'CEE, Linn. GEN. CHAR. Calyx (fig. 1, a.) inferior, of 1 sepal, in 4 or 5 oblong, pointed, permanent segments. Corolla (fig. 2.) of 1 petal; tubular in the lower part; limb more or less spreading, in 4 or 5 deep, equal segments, withering, destitute of nectariferous glands. Filaments (fig. 1, b.) 5, or as many as the divisions of the corolla, and alternate therewith, inserted into the tube, and not protruding beyond it. Anthers (fig. 1, c.) incumbent, oblong, sometimes united. Germen (fig. 3.) oblong, nearly cylindrical, pointed. Styles (fig. 3.) short, upright, sometimes united. Stigmas (fig. 1, d.) flat, ovate. Capsule (fig. 4.) oblong, or elliptical, nearly cylindrical, pointed, slightly cloven, of 1 cell, and 2 valves. Seeds numerous, small, compressed, not bordered, fixed to the inflexed margins of the valves. The monopetalous, inferior corolla, tubular at the base, and destitute of nectariferous glands; and the capsule of 1 cell and 2 valves; will distinguish this from other genera in the same class and order. Six species British. GENTIA NA PNEUMONA'NTHE. Calathian Violet. Marsh Gentian. Autum Bellflower. Harvest Bells. Common Lungflower. SPEC. CHAR. Leaves strap-shaped. Flowers axillary and terminal, stalked. Corolla bell-shaped, 5-cleft. Engl. Bot. t. 20.—Curt. Brit. Entomol. v. vi. t. 281.-Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 330.Huds. Fl. Angl. (2nd ed.) p. 102. -Sm. Fl. Brit. v. i. p. 285. Engl. Fl. v. ii. p. 27. With. (7th ed.) v. ii p 358.-Lindl. Syn. p. 178.-Hook. Brit. Fl. p. 111.-Davies' Welsh Bot. p. 26.-Gentiana palustris angustifolia, Ray's Syn. p. 274.-Pneumonanthe, Johnson's Gerarde, p. 438.-Pneumonanthe vulgáris, Gray's Nat. Arr. v. ii. p. 335. LOCALITIES.-On moist turfy heaths in several parts of England.-Cheshire; In a marsh on a heath near Holmes Chapel: Mr. HUNTER, in B. G. Not uncommon about Park-Gate: Mr. GRIFFITH, ibid. Heaths above Tranmere: Miss Brck, in N. B. G. Heaths near Bidston : Mr. H. C. WATSON, in N. B. G. and G. CROSFIELD, Esq. Bagerley Moor: Mr. CHRISTY.-Cumberland; Field between Maryport and Flimby, 2 or 300 yards from the latter: Rev. J. HARRIHowgill Castle Woods: HUTCHINSON.-Derbysh. Eggington Heath: PILKINGTON.-Dorset; In Purbeck; and on the moist grounds on Heaths: Dr. PULTENEY.-Hampsh. Moor near Fleet Pond: E. HILL, Esq. Ch. Ch. Oxford.-Kent. On the sides of the bogs on Waterdown Forest, towards Eridge Park; and in abundance in a field on the right hand of the coach-road over the forest to the High Rocks: Fl. Tonbrigensis. On Longfield Downs near Gravesend; near Greenhithe, and Cobham; also at Lellingstone, and near Dartford: ΜΑΝ. Fig. 1. Calyx, Stamens, and Pistils; a. calyx; b. filaments; c. anthers; d. stigmas. Fig. 2. Corolla. Fig. 3. Germen, Styles, and Stigmas.-Fig. 4. Capsule.-Fig. 5. Transverse section of the same. * So named from GENTIUS, King of Illyrica, who, according to PLINY, first discovered the antidotal virtues of a certain species. WITHERING. + See Anchusa sempervirens, folio 48, note ↑. Mart. Mill. Dict.-Lancash. Salesmoor, near Manchester: N. J. WINCH, Esq. Near Burnley: MIRRETT. Walney Isle: RAY. Newton Heath, near Manchester: Mr. CALEY. Near Southport: G. CROSFIELD, Esq. Near Coniston: MISS MARY BEFVER. Near Bootle, and on Childwall Common, near Liverpool: Dr. Bostock and Mr. SHEPHERD.-Lincolnsh. On the heathy ground between Newark and Lincoln, a few miles from the latter on the right: Rev G. CRABB. Horncastle, near the Tower of Moor: Rev. R. RELHAN.-Middlesex ; On Hounslow Heath, sparingly: Rev. Dr. GoODENOUGH - Notts; Observed in this county by Mr. T. H. COOPER: see N. B. G.--Norfolk; On Stratton Strawless Heath: Mr. STILLINGFLFET. Leziate Heath, abundantly: Mr. CROW. Rollesby Common, in abundance: Hist. of Yar.-Suffolk; Carlton Heath, near Lowestoft: Mr. WOODWARD. Hopton and Corton Heaths: Mr. W166.-Surrey; A quarter of a mile beyond Clapham, in the field going the middle way to Engleton: NEWTON.-Sussex; On Chailey Common: W. Borrer, Esq. On Waterdown Forest near Tunbridge Wells: Mr. J. Woons, jun. Barnett's Rough, near Woolavington; Duncton Heath; on the Forest, about a mile to the N. E. of Wood's Nursery, on a bank facing the S. E., plentifully: N. B. G.- Westmoreland; Milburn: Rev. Mr. RICHARDSON. Near Milthorpe: HUDSON. Foulshaw Moss: N. B. G.-Yorksh. Terrington Car; and Stockton Common: TEFSDALE. Pill Moor near Helperby, in plenty: Rev. J. DAL.10N. Near Hewby, on heathy ground: Rev. ARCHDEACON PIERSON. Hatfield Common: Dr. MATON. Tilmire, three miles from York: Mr. LEYLAND. Potteric Car, near L'oncaster: S. APPLEBY, in Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. v. p. 557. Moors South of York; Raskelp Common, near Easingwold: N. J. WINCH, Esq.-WALES. Anglesey; Rough Heaths near Holyhead; Rhos y Meirch; Cae rhôs Ligwy, &c.: Rev. H. DAVIES. Perennial. Flowers in August and September. Root of many long, simple, tapering fibres. Stem simple, from 4 to 8 or 10 inches high, square, ascending, leafy. Leaves opposite, sessile, of a dark green colour, single-ribbed, an inch or more in length, strap-shaped, or sometimes strap-spear-shaped, entire, smooth, more or less blunt. Flowers few, large and handsome, upright, terminal and axillary, slightly stalked, seldom more than 1 or 2 on each stem. Calyx (fig. 1, a.) cylindrical, or very slightly angular, divided about half way down into 5 strap-shaped, pointed segments, with a nearly transparent membrane between each at their base. Corolla (fig. 2.) bell-shaped, or funnel-shaped, of a deep and beautiful blue colour, with 5 prominent, pale greenish plaits; the limb in 5 pointed lobes, with 1 or 2 small, intermediate, unequal teeth. Anthers (fig. 1, c.) pale yellow, united into a tube, till the germen enlarges and separates them. Styles (f.3.) recurved. This is an elegant and beautiful little plant, but is not of easy culture in a garden; it succeeds best in a moist, loamy soil. The fine specimen from which the drawing was made for the accompanying plate, was gathered near Coniston, in Lancashire, by Miss MARY BEEVER, and kindly communicated to me by JOSHUA SATTERFIELD, Esq. of Manchester. The Gentians are remarkable for their exceeding bitterness, which renders them valuable tonic and stomachic medicines. Gentiana Lutea (Yellow Gentian) has been made the emblem of ingratitude, because it so frequently dies under the culture of the gardener. It is this species which is most commonly employed in British medicine; but its place is suppl ed in Norway and Germany by G. Purpurea; in Russia by G. Pneumonanthe and G. Amarella; and in the United States of America by G. Catesbæi.―The base of the famous Portland Powder is said to be Gentian. |